Vivian Bendall
Encyclopedia
Vivian Walter Hough Bendall (born 14 December 1938) is a British
estate agent and politician. After gaining the seat in a by-election he served as Conservative
Member of Parliament for Ilford North
from 1978 until his defeat in 1997. Bendall is on the right-wing of the party.
, Bendall's father and grandfather were both estate agents. After attending Coombe Hill House Preparatory School and Broad Green College in Croydon, he entered the same profession himself in 1956. In 1962 he became a partner of Bendall, Featherby and Co., estate agents of Croydon, and in the next year he became Principal. He remained in charge of the business until 1986. He also worked as a surveyor and valuer.
when it was created as a London Borough in 1964, serving until 1974, and also represented Croydon on the Greater London Council
from 1970 to 1973. At the February 1974 general election
he stood for the Conservative Party
in Hertford and Stevenage
, losing to prominent Labour MP Shirley Williams by 8,176 votes; a second try in October 1974
saw defeat by 9,046.
, which the Conservatives had narrowly lost to Labour's Millie Miller
. At the 1976 Conservative Party conference he denounced the Labour government for having "strangled the nation" and demanded an immediate general election. At the end of October 1977, Millie Miller died, precipitating a by-election
in the seat Bendall had been picked to fight. He faced opposition from Tom Iremonger, who had been Conservative MP for the seat for twenty years and stood as a 'Conservative Independent Democrat', and the National Front organised a march through the constituency to support their candidate. Bendall's call for the march to be banned was not supported by Margaret Thatcher
who thought it was a police decision.
By polling day Bendall was a clear favourite with some local activists predicting a 5,000 majority, this proved accurate as he won by 5,497 over Labour candidate Tessa Jowell
, later a Cabinet Minister.
as a researcher.
Bendall was defeated in Ilford North by Labour candidate Linda Perham
. He attempted to win the seat back at the 2001 general election
, arranging for his picture to be taken with former Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher
: Bendall told reporters that I have always been an admirer of Lady Thatcher. I intend to use the picture in a press release during the campaign. Other candidates are planning to use them in their addresses. She still plays well on the doorstep." However Perham was re-elected with a majority reduced to 2,115. In August 2001 during the Conservative leadership election
, Bendall's name headed a letter from seven former Conservative MPs expressing "our concern for the unity and electability of the Conservative Party" if Kenneth Clarke
were to win, and endorsing Iain Duncan Smith
.
Bendall is a Chartered Surveyor and is sole principal of the family practice which was established in Croydon in 1924. The practice is still in being with him as the sole principal, specialising in property management both commercial and residential and commercial rent reviews.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
estate agent and politician. After gaining the seat in a by-election he served as Conservative
Conservative Party (UK)
The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...
Member of Parliament for Ilford North
Ilford North (UK Parliament constituency)
Ilford North is a borough constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It comprises the north part of the town of Ilford in the London Borough of Redbridge, and elects one Member of Parliament by the first-past-the-post system of...
from 1978 until his defeat in 1997. Bendall is on the right-wing of the party.
Business life
Born in CroydonCroydon
Croydon is a town in South London, England, located within the London Borough of Croydon to which it gives its name. It is situated south of Charing Cross...
, Bendall's father and grandfather were both estate agents. After attending Coombe Hill House Preparatory School and Broad Green College in Croydon, he entered the same profession himself in 1956. In 1962 he became a partner of Bendall, Featherby and Co., estate agents of Croydon, and in the next year he became Principal. He remained in charge of the business until 1986. He also worked as a surveyor and valuer.
Politics
After joining the Young Conservatives in 1955, Bendall was Vice-Chairman of Croydon South Young Conservatives in 1965 and Chairman of Greater London Young Conservatives in 1967. He was elected to Croydon Borough CouncilLondon Borough of Croydon
The London Borough of Croydon is a London borough in South London, England and is part of Outer London. It covers an area of and is the largest London borough by population. It is the southernmost borough of London. At its centre is the historic town of Croydon from which the borough takes its name...
when it was created as a London Borough in 1964, serving until 1974, and also represented Croydon on the Greater London Council
Greater London Council
The Greater London Council was the top-tier local government administrative body for Greater London from 1965 to 1986. It replaced the earlier London County Council which had covered a much smaller area...
from 1970 to 1973. At the February 1974 general election
United Kingdom general election, February 1974
The United Kingdom's general election of February 1974 was held on the 28th of that month. It was the first of two United Kingdom general elections held that year, and the first election since the Second World War not to produce an overall majority in the House of Commons for the winning party,...
he stood for the Conservative Party
Conservative Party (UK)
The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...
in Hertford and Stevenage
Hertford and Stevenage (UK Parliament constituency)
Hertford and Stevenage was a parliamentary constituency in Hertfordshire, which returned one Member of Parliament to the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom from February 1974 until it was abolished for the 1983 general election....
, losing to prominent Labour MP Shirley Williams by 8,176 votes; a second try in October 1974
United Kingdom general election, October 1974
The United Kingdom general election of October 1974 took place on 10 October 1974 to elect 635 members to the British House of Commons. It was the second general election of that year and resulted in the Labour Party led by Harold Wilson, winning by a tiny majority of 3 seats.The election of...
saw defeat by 9,046.
Byelection
On 25 November 1975 Bendall was adopted as Conservative candidate for Ilford NorthIlford North (UK Parliament constituency)
Ilford North is a borough constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It comprises the north part of the town of Ilford in the London Borough of Redbridge, and elects one Member of Parliament by the first-past-the-post system of...
, which the Conservatives had narrowly lost to Labour's Millie Miller
Millie Miller
Millie Miller was a British Labour Party politician.Miller was a councillor in the London Borough of Camden and was the first woman to lead a London Borough council when she was leader 1971-73...
. At the 1976 Conservative Party conference he denounced the Labour government for having "strangled the nation" and demanded an immediate general election. At the end of October 1977, Millie Miller died, precipitating a by-election
Ilford North by-election, 1978
The Ilford North by-election of 2 March 1978 was held after the death of Labour Member of Parliament Millie Miller on 29 October 1977. The seat was gained by the Conservatives in a defeat for James Callaghan's government.-Results:...
in the seat Bendall had been picked to fight. He faced opposition from Tom Iremonger, who had been Conservative MP for the seat for twenty years and stood as a 'Conservative Independent Democrat', and the National Front organised a march through the constituency to support their candidate. Bendall's call for the march to be banned was not supported by Margaret Thatcher
Margaret Thatcher
Margaret Hilda Thatcher, Baroness Thatcher, was Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1979 to 1990...
who thought it was a police decision.
By polling day Bendall was a clear favourite with some local activists predicting a 5,000 majority, this proved accurate as he won by 5,497 over Labour candidate Tessa Jowell
Tessa Jowell
Tessa Jowell is a British Labour Party politician, who has been the Member of Parliament for Dulwich and West Norwood since 1992. Formerly a member of both the Blair and Brown Cabinets, she is currently the Shadow Minister for the Olympics and Shadow Minister for London.-Early life:Tessa Jane...
, later a Cabinet Minister.
Parliament
In Parliament, he was Vice chairman of the Backbench Transport Committee. Vice Chairman of the Backbench Foreign Affairs Committee and was Secretary of the conservative 92 Group. He is a Eurosceptic, a supporter of the death penalty and favours the restoration of corporal punishment in schools. He employed future Romford MP Andrew RosindellAndrew Rosindell
Andrew Richard Rosindell is an English Conservative politician. He is the Member of Parliament for the Romford constituency in Greater London...
as a researcher.
Later life
At the 1997 general electionUnited Kingdom general election, 1997
The United Kingdom general election, 1997 was held on 1 May 1997, more than five years after the previous election on 9 April 1992, to elect 659 members to the British House of Commons. The Labour Party ended its 18 years in opposition under the leadership of Tony Blair, and won the general...
Bendall was defeated in Ilford North by Labour candidate Linda Perham
Linda Perham
Linda Perham is a Labour politician in the United Kingdom.-Career:Perham was a London Borough of Redbridge councillor and Mayor of the Borough prior to the 1997 election. She was Member of Parliament for Ilford North from 1997, defeating Vivian Bendall, until she lost her seat at the 2005 election...
. He attempted to win the seat back at the 2001 general election
United Kingdom general election, 2001
The United Kingdom general election, 2001 was held on Thursday 7 June 2001 to elect 659 members to the British House of Commons. It was dubbed "the quiet landslide" by the media, as the Labour Party was re-elected with another landslide result and only suffered a net loss of 6 seats...
, arranging for his picture to be taken with former Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher
Margaret Thatcher
Margaret Hilda Thatcher, Baroness Thatcher, was Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1979 to 1990...
: Bendall told reporters that I have always been an admirer of Lady Thatcher. I intend to use the picture in a press release during the campaign. Other candidates are planning to use them in their addresses. She still plays well on the doorstep." However Perham was re-elected with a majority reduced to 2,115. In August 2001 during the Conservative leadership election
Conservative Party (UK) leadership election, 2001
The 2001 Conservative leadership election was held after the United Kingdom Conservative Party failed to make inroads into the Labour government's lead in the 2001 general election. Party leader William Hague resigned, and a leadership contest was called under new rules Hague had introduced...
, Bendall's name headed a letter from seven former Conservative MPs expressing "our concern for the unity and electability of the Conservative Party" if Kenneth Clarke
Kenneth Clarke
Kenneth Harry "Ken" Clarke, QC, MP is a British Conservative politician, currently Member of Parliament for Rushcliffe, Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice. He was first elected to Parliament in 1970; and appointed a minister in Edward Heath's government, in 1972, and is one of...
were to win, and endorsing Iain Duncan Smith
Iain Duncan Smith
George Iain Duncan Smith is a British Conservative politician. He is currently the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions and was previously leader of the Conservative Party from September 2001 to October 2003...
.
Bendall is a Chartered Surveyor and is sole principal of the family practice which was established in Croydon in 1924. The practice is still in being with him as the sole principal, specialising in property management both commercial and residential and commercial rent reviews.